Granada CF 1 - 3 Eibar: Eibar ease past Granada to go top

Posted Tuesday, August 25, 2015 by PA

Eibar immediately set about making the most of their relegation reprieve as their opened their La Liga campaign with a 3-1 win at 10-man Granada.

Adrian Gonzalez and Gonzalo Escalante marked their debuts with goals and Mikel Arruabarrena also struck for the Basque side, who were spared the drop from the Primera Liga last season because of Elche's financial problems.

Ruben Rochina replied for Granada, who survived last season by more conventional means after a long relegation scrap, but the sending-off of Salva Ruiz proved costly.

The result means Eibar are the surprise early leaders of La Liga after the first round of fixtures while Granada are bottom.

Adrian made an instant impression on his first appearance by opening the scoring after 22 minutes, rifling home a cross from another new signing, Antonio Luna.

Escalante got in on the act 13 minutes later, brilliantly wrong-footing Rochina to find the target after another good cross from Luna.

Granada got themselves back into the game five minutes into the second half as Rochina struck from a cross from substitute Isaac Success. They then threatened an equaliser as Miguel Lopes tested Xabi Irureta from distance.

But there was no way back after Ruiz was shown a red card for a bad challenge on Dani Garcia just before the hour.

Arruabarrena made the victory certain after 67 minutes as, within a minute of coming off the bench, he headed home from a free-kick. Eibar might even have had more as they created further chances in a strong finish.